VOTING in what is said to be the world’s biggest music democracy is underway once again.

First published in the 16 January 2015 edition of the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen.

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Triple J listeners have until Sunday night to vote online for their favourite songs of 2014 in the annual Hottest 100 poll.

The poll began as a “Hot” 100 in 1988 and for the first few years was a write-in poll of all-time favourites. By 1992 it had changed to the “Hottest” 100, with listeners voting on songs from the previous 12 months.

In time it switched to phone and SMS voting, and now online voting through the Triple J web site.

In last year’s Hottest 100 there were 1.49 Million votes counted, with 43 per cent of those for Australian artists.

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Voter participation is increasing nationally as Triple J’s audience grows. That growth is certainly evident in Gippsland where recent audience tracking showed Triple J now has more listeners than ever.

Within Baw Baw Shire, local loyalty keeps Star FM ahead of Triple J, but the national youth network is gaining ground.

When Triple J discovered that listeners had the Hottest 100 countdown playing as a soundtrack to their Australia Day barbecues and pool parties, the station began promoting the concept of “Hottest 100 Parties,” offering prizes and give-aways.

Some are private parties at homes while others are public events, like one this year at Warragul’s O&H Hotel.

What is now a nationwide FM network began in January 1975 as a single AM station in Sydney called 2JJ. The very first song the station played was one which was banned on 3UL Warragul and every other Commercial station, “You Just Like Me ‘Cos I’m Good in Bed” by Skyhooks.

In playing that, 2JJ announced it was here to shake things up a little. As an ABC-operated station, it wasn’t bound by record bans and other such Commercial radio restrictions.

Today, Triple J leads in innovative youth broadcasting and the unearthing of new Australian music, launching Triple J Unearthed to feature home-grown acts from across the nation.

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The station has much to celebrate over the next few weeks.

Greg has worked in the radio industry for 38 years and is presently employed by the ACE network. For more by Greg visit greatergippsland.com.